The rollout of ultra-fast broadband to rural areas in Northern Ireland has been boosted with an additional £25 million investment.

An initiative from the Department for the Economy, 'Project Stratum' is being delivered locally by Fibrus and largely focuses on rural, hard to reach areas.

These new funds will ensure an additional 8,500 premises will benefit from access to full fibre broadband connections under the project.

Welcoming the announcement of further funding, Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Paul McLean said: "Project Stratum already represents investment of £165M into broadband infrastructure, and an increased level of connectivity in Mid Ulster has been and remains critical to residents and businesses and to economic growth, so this new funding is very welcome."

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Councillor Kim Ashton, who chairs the Mid Ulster District Council's Broadband Working Group, added: "We have lobbied strongly, not only for this much-needed strategic investment in getting fast, reliable broadband to rural areas generally, but also to ensure that thousands of households and business premises in Mid Ulster which were originally excluded from the scheme were identified and targeted to ensure they are able to avail of the enhanced connectivity.

"I look forward to hearing how the additional funding is to be allocated and how Mid Ulster will benefit specifically."